Thanks for the reference, but I still don't see where there is any law that says that a cheque being paid into the account in the name of the payee when it is crossed with a/c payee only must be endorsed (or is it indorsed?) by the payee. The cheques act appears to be introducing safeguards for banks on cheques which have been accepted and cleared by them.
I had same problem and cashier said " Just sign your wife's name on the back please!!" problem solved.
It's ridiculous, eh? Does anyone know if the bank scans in both the front and the back of the cheque when it's lodged? I would assume they scan the front of the cheque when they process it. Although maybe that's too logical for a bank?
Do they do a comparison to the signature signed on the back? i know they do not look at the signature on the front when paying a cheque unless it is over €1000, or that used to be the case